Connecting device

Abstract

A connecting device with a drive section having a thread on the end, wherein the connecting device can be used to screw a shaft element to a thread corresponding to the thread of the drive section, wherein, in addition to the thread, at least one positive-locking element forming a positive-locking connection with the shaft element is provided.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A connecting device comprising:
 a drive section having a thread, wherein the drive section thread is configured to screw onto a thread of a shaft element, and 
 wherein at least one positive-locking element is provided within an area of the threads of the drive section and the shaft element, the positive-locking element configured to form a positive-locking connection between the drive section and the shaft element, the positive-locking element being sized to engage with an elongated opening extending in an axial direction through the thread of at least one of the drive section and the shaft element, and also to engage a recess in the other of the drive section and the shaft element in order to form the positive-locking connection, 
 wherein the elongated opening and the positive-locking element are sized such that no load is placed on the positive-locking element during the transfer of at least one of axially tractive or compressive forces between the drive section and the shaft element. 
 
     
     
       2. The connecting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thread of the drive section comprises an outer thread and the thread of the shaft element comprises a corresponding inner thread. 
     
     
       3. The connecting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one positive-locking element is fastened in the shaft element so as to be detachable. 
     
     
       4. The connecting device according to  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the at least one positive-locking element forms an angle of less than 20° to a longitudinal axis of the shaft element. 
     
     
       5. The connecting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated opening comprises a pass-through groove formed in the shaft element. 
     
     
       6. The connecting device according to  claim 5 , wherein the pass-though groove comprises a plurality of pass-through grooves and the at least one positive-locking element comprises a plurality of positive-locking elements. 
     
     
       7. The connecting device according to  claim 6 , wherein the pass-through grooves are distributed evenly around the periphery of the shaft element. 
     
     
       8. The connecting device according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a sleeve for retaining the at least one positive-locking element in the pass-through groove; and 
 a retaining ring for securing the position of the sleeve relative to the at least one positive-locking element. 
 
     
     
       9. The connecting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the thread of the drive section comprises an outer thread formed on a first end thereof. 
     
     
       10. The connecting device according to  claim 9 , wherein the drive section has teeth on a second end thereof for connecting with a drive. 
     
     
       11. The connecting device according to  claim 10 , wherein the outer thread of the drive section comprises threads symmetrically placed on a core with which adjacent flanks and the thread root of a thread form sections of the same ellipse.